Concern over Bolton Wanderers defender Eoin Toal concussion

Wanderers striker Charles teed-up the first goal for Isaac Price – who went on to net a hat-trick – and also had one of his own ruled out midway through the second half after Conor Bradley strayed offside.

But it proved a bittersweet night for Eoin Toal, who according to reports in Belfast was taken to hospital with concussion after a collision which resulted in a Bulgarian penalty, which was missed by Kiril Despodov.

Michael O’Neill’s side were rampant throughout the game, however, and before Price completed his hat-trick there was an own goal from keeper Dimitar Mitrov and a powerful effort from Josh Magennis.

Northern Ireland had struggled to create and convert chances of late, not least in their goalless draw against Belarus at the weekend.

But with Dion Charles restored to the attack they were a different proposition, and the Bolton front man was at his waspish best to nick the ball from Zhivko Atanasov and provide a perfect pass for Price for the first goal of the night.

Charles then tormented Atanasov again moments later with a superb turn, which required a save from Mitrov, and was pulled down to the ground in the build-up to Price’s second – which would surely have earned a penalty had the ball not been despatched into the net.

“When you create chances in the game there’s nights when you don’t take them and nights when you do and we were very clinical,” manager O’Neill said. “But it was more the quality of the play and the nature of the chances again which was most pleasing.

“The attitude of the team was terrific, the intensity and the quality of their play. Everyone was right at the top of their game. As a manager, I’m very proud of the performance.

“The reaction to Saturday is very important. One of the things I’ve been concerned about with such a young team is can they play the second game and how they adapt to play the second game and every answer I got tonight was very positive.”